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My vision blurred as I struggled to catch my breath. I lifted my hand to smooth Giselle’s hair and noticed my fingers were covered in blood.
“Stay with me, baby.” She kissed my knuckles.
“Pierce,” I managed to croak out as the pain rippled through me. I attempted to stay coherent, but I must have hit my head pretty hard when I fell to the floor. “I love you, Giselle.”
“Zayne. Don’t you leave me. Please!” Her cries pierced the air, then my world turned black.
40
Giselle
“Oh, God!” I cried as Zayne’s eyes fluttered closed. “What did you do?” I screamed at Donovan.
“Time for us to go, sis.” Donavan jerked me backward, tossing me to the floor. He sat on top of me, placed his hands on my cheeks, then lifted my head and smacked it against the tiles. Black dots danced before my vision, and the last face that flickered through my mind was Zayne’s.
* * *
My skull throbbedas I peeled my eyelids open, attempting to comprehend where I was—white furniture, pink-and-white-striped wallpaper, ballet posters lining the walls.
How did I end up at my parents’ house? I pushed myself into a sitting position on the bed. Tears welled in my eyes as everything rushed back to me, stealing my breath.Zayne. Oh God, Donovan shot him.There was no telling what bullshit story Donovan was saying to my parents at this moment. I had to stop him.
I placed my feet on the cool wood floors and slowly stood, gripping the edge of my old nightstand for balance. The room tilted, and I sat back down before I passed out. I swallowed while my attention swept over the space. My parents had left my old bedroom the same as it was the day that I’d moved to the ballet academy. Pictures of us together and smiling while on vacations all over the world lined the bulletin board over my white, shabby chic desk. Donovan was all smiles, his arm around me in most pictures. Even then, I couldn’t escape him.
Swallowing over the dryness in my throat, I rose again. My head didn’t swim this time, so I first took a few cautious steps, then continued to the door. I treaded carefully down the hall but couldn’t hear any voices. The mansion was huge, so it didn’t surprise me.
Hugging the banister, I made my way down the stairs. I crept through the living room and headed to Father’s office. If he was there, I might be able to catch him alone and see if Donovan was here or if he’d just dropped me off.
I slowed, noticing the door next to Father’s office was ajar. My entire life, it had been locked with a keypad. Frowning, I caught sounds drifting up from below. Father had explained that it was for storage and that he kept his clients’ confidential information there. If that was the case, why was it open now, and what or who was I hearing?
The light from the hall spilled into the dark space, illuminating a set of steps. How did I not know that we had a basement in the house? I had lived there for sixteen years, until I left for the academy. Confusion swirled through me, and I quietly descended the stairs, then heard Mother, Father, and Donovan speaking. Shit. The bastard was weaseling his way into their good graces again. Or was Mother terrified of him after I told her what he’d done to me all my life?
My bare feet landed on another stair, and the sight of both my parents talking with Donovan came into view.
I crouched down, trying to overhear what they were saying.
“You did the right thing bringing her here. I’m sure Zayne’s men were on the way,” Father said. “The moment Giselle showed up with Zayne and told us their plan, I knew I had to nip that shit in the bud and tell you to get your ass home.”
What? It was my parents that told Donovan? How could they?
My head clouded with panic, shock, and nerves that spiked my adrenaline. Not only had Donovan hurt me, my parents had betrayed me as well.
“Well, the sorry bastard is dead, so he won’t be a problem anymore.”
I gasped, then slapped my hand over my mouth.
Zayne is dead! Oh my, God.
I trembled in my hiding spot as I muffled my cries. I’d lost the only man that I’d ever loved. He was gone because of my sick and disgusting brother. Unable to control my sobs, I stood and started to run up the stairs. I would have to talk to Mother privately to learn what lies Donovan had fed her and Father.
Footsteps neared the steps, and I held my breath. “I thought I heard you,” Mother said from behind me.
I turned slowly, terrified of what Donovan would do to my parents and Ashley. I had to protect them. There wasn’t anyone else who could.
“Hey, I heard some strange noises, and thought I should check it out.” I plastered a smile on my face. “Are you okay?” I asked, my head throbbing from Donovan’s earlier beating and now my tears.
“Never better. Come here. I want to show you something.” She motioned for me, smiling the same smile I knew and loved.
Maybe Donovan hadn’t hurt them … yet. I had no clue how to protect them, but images of a movie I’d seen years ago flashed through my mind, giving me an idea. Feeling a bit braver and mentally more prepared to handle Donovan, I descended the stairs toward my mother.
